Divisional Sales & Operations Manager (Gatwick, Stansted, Luton)

Funky Pigeon; Luton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Divisional Sales and Operations Manager to lead their Large Airport stores. This role involves inspiring teams, driving commercial excellence, and ensuring a world-class customer experience. You will shape the future of the business, fostering a high-performing culture while managing operational targets and costs. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, you will engage with diverse colleagues and partners to create a thriving environment. Join a dynamic team committed to enhancing every journey through exceptional service and products.

Benefits

25 Days Holiday

Birthday Off

Company Pension Scheme

Sharesave Scheme

Annual Bonus

Competitive Salary

Private Medical

Staff Discount Card

Qualifications

• Proven record in senior retail management with multi-site experience.
• Ability to lead and inspire teams for optimal results.

Responsibilities

• Drive success of Large Airport stores through effective leadership.
• Create a culture of commercial excellence and customer focus.

Skills

Senior Retail Management

Team Leadership

Commercial Acumen

Communication Skills

Operational Excellence

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or Related Field

Job description

At the heart of WHSmith Travel, our mission is to enhance every journey through exceptional service, products and partnerships.

As the Divisional Sales and Operations Manager, you will drive the success of our Large Airport stores, leading your team to deliver growth across multiple formats, including InMotion.

Your leadership will shape the future of our business, delivering operational excellence and fostering a high-performing culture that places people, customers, and profitability at the core of everything we do.

What you will be doing:

• Setting the cultural and behavioural standards for the Large Air Division, role-modelling company values
• Inspiring and leading Store Managers through coaching, challenging and empowering them. Creating an environment that encourages continuous development and showcases the best talent.
• Owning and delivering a robust talent strategy, collaborating with cross-functional teams to nurture future leaders and ensure succession plans are in place across all stores.
• Engaging colleagues by creating a psychologically safe environment that fosters openness and idea-sharing. Communication is a priority and your divisional engagement plan is designed to inspire and make a difference in colleagues’ lives.
• Driving a culture of commercial excellence, leveraging every opportunity to maximise sales, grow spend per passenger and adapt to seasonal and customer trends with energy and agility. You'll collaborate with commercial teams to shape future sales strategies.
• Harnessing the full potential of the InMotion format, driving a passion for selling, product knowledge and the customer experience. You'll own and shape the customer selling strategy for future growth.
• Monitoring operational targets and service level agreements with partners, positioning WHSmith as a trusted and valuable partner.
• Managing costs efficiently , ensuring expenditures stay within budget, and work with teams to shape annual budgets that maximise profit and productivity.
• You'll be obsessed with the customer experience, role modelling the importance of a world-class customer journey. Everyone in your Division knows how to sell, manage queues and delight customers through friendly and helpful interactions.
• Gaining a deep understanding of the market where your stores operate and tailoring your approach to meet the unique needs of each customer.

What we are looking for:

When it comes to senior retail management within multi-site retail, you really know your stuff, you’ll have a proven record of how to lead and inspire your team to get the best results. With this knowledge, you bring a flair for innovation and pin-sharp commercial acumen, this will help you plan ahead as you take full responsibility for your division. You’ll also need to be impeccably organised, have the capability to deliver through your team. Last, but never least, you need the communication skills to connect with hundreds of diverse colleagues and the leadership team. Engaging and persuasive, you’ll influence your support centre colleagues, working collaboratively with Landlords to create a great partnership.

How we reward our teams:

• 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Family Friendly Leave
• Company Pension scheme
• Sharesave Scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
• Competitive Salary and car allowance
• Private Medical
• Staff Discount Card for stores and online

About us:

Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 12,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve. WHSmith have occupied our place in our customers’ hearts for over two decades. You’ll find our stores and our family of brands in airports, hospitals, railway stations, on high streets and in shopping centres – as well as right across the world! We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation, resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture. WHSmith are proud to be an inclusive employer, we want our colleagues to feel welcome, and free to be themselves with us.